PORTLAND, ORE. — On Saturday, October 24, more than 100 paddlesports enthusiasts will form a giant floating “350” on the Willamette River in downtown Portland as part of the largest global day of climate action ever. Participants of this River of Action event will take to the river in kayaks, canoes and on standup paddleboards. The event—one of more than 4,000 rallies in more than 170 nations—is part of the 350.org International Day of Climate Action to urge world leaders to take fast and effective action on global warming.
“As paddlers, we experience the impacts of climate change firsthand. Less snowpack is drastically affecting our rivers and waterways,” said Andy Maser, Event Organizer and National Geographic Young Explorers Grantee. “The climate is something we can get back on track. It’s time to take action. And today, there’s no doubt that we want to see real action from the world on climate change before it’s too late.”
Around the world on Saturday—from Portland to the melting slopes of Mt. Everest—people will take action aimed at focusing attention to the number 350. Scientists have insisted in recent years that 350 parts per million is the most carbon dioxide (CO2) we can safely have in the atmosphere. The current CO2 concentration is 390 parts per million.
Tomorrow’s actions come six weeks before the world’s nations convene in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to draw up a new climate treaty. Eighty-nine countries have already endorsed the 350 target, as well as the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, the world’s foremost climate economist, Sir Nicholas Stern, Nobel prize-winner Al Gore and hundreds of thousands of global citizens. All agree that current atmospheric levels of CO2—390 parts per million—are causing damage to the planet and to its most vulnerable people, and that government action at the Copenhagen climate conference is required to bring the earth’s carbon level swiftly down.
“That’s why glaciers and sea ice are melting, drought is spreading, and flooding is on the increase,” said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author twenty years ago of the first major book on climate change. “And it’s why we need a huge worldwide movement to give us the momentum to make real political change. Our leaders have heard from major corporations and big polluters for a long time—today, finally, they heard from citizens and scientists.”
Event organizers will be available for media at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, October 24. Participants will launch their boats at 11:00 a.m. and the target time for the completion of the floating 350 is 12:45 p.m.
LOCATION: The floating 350 will be formed just south of the Burnside Bridge on the west side of the Willamette River. The event coordination and media vantage point will be halfway across the Burnside Bridge on the south side. Some parking is available on the west side of the Burnside Bridge in the eastbound lane. Paddlers are launching from the public dock at the Portland Boathouse, near OMSI. (1515 SE Water Ave, Portland, OR). Google Map of launch point: http://bit.ly/1L1Gkz
Local paddlesports enthusiasts, business owners and environmental advocates available for comment include: Andy Maser, Event Organizer and National Geographic Young Explorers Grantee; Kate Ross, Outreach and Education Coordinator, Willamette Riverkeeper; Chris Enlow, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, KEEN Footwear; Linda Tom, Director of Marketing, KEEN Footwear; Sam Drevo, Owner, Northwest River Guides; Paul Kuthe, Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe.
View the links below for examples of the event’s photo and video opportunities:
• A video of the test run of the floating 350 idea, filmed on the Willamette earlier this year, is available on YouTube here
• A test photo from the media vantage point is available here
Photos and video from the event will be available here and here
Images from events around the world, including this rally, will be accessible at 350.org as part of an online photostream. Visual documentation from the Day of Action will be delivered to the United Nations on Monday.
